Plunger base module for a plunger mechanism of an I.S. machine

ABSTRACT

A plunger base module for a selected number of vertically extending cylindrical plunger canisters each having a bottom surface and including a set of service conduits including plunger up, plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or cooling, with each of the service conduits in a plunger canister having a selectively located inlet port communicating with the bottom surface of the plunger canister. The plunger base module includes a permanent plunger distribution base having a top surface and a plurality of sets of service conduits, each set including plunger up, plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or cooling. Each plunger distribution base service conduit has an outlet port communicating with the top surface. A removable transition plate has a bottom surface for engaging the top surface of the plunger distribution base and a top surface. The transition plate has a number, equal to the number of plunger canisters, of sets of service conduits, each set including plunger up, plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or cooling. Each of the service conduits in the transition plate has an inlet port in the transition plate bottom surface for communicating with a corresponding outlet port in the plunger distribution base and has an outlet port in the transition plate top surface selectively located to communicate with a corresponding inlet port in a plunger canister positioned on the transition plate. The plunger distribution base also includes a valve for selectively blocking the flow of the services to the transition plate.

The present invention relates to the plunger mechanism for an I.S.(individual section) machine which transforms gobs of molten glass intobottles in a two step process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The first I.S. machine was patented in U.S. Pat. No. 1,843,159, datedFeb. 2, 1932, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,911,119, dated May 23, 1933. Todaymore than 4000 I.S. machines, manufactured by a number of companies, arein use worldwide, producing more than a billion bottles every day of theyear. An I.S. (individual section) machine has a plurality of identicalsections (a section frame in which and on which are mounted a number ofsection mechanisms) each of which has a blank station which receives oneor more gobs of molten glass and forms them into parisons having athreaded opening at the bottom (the finish) and a blow station whichreceives the parisons and forms them into bottles standing upright withthe finish at the top. An invert and neck ring holder mechanism whichincludes an opposed pair of arms, rotatable about an invert axis,carries the parisons from the blank station to the blow stationinverting the parisons from a finish down to a finish up orientation inthe process. A bottle formed at the blow station is removed from thesection by a takeout mechanism.

The blank station includes opposed pairs of blankmolds and the blowstation includes opposed pairs of blowmolds. These molds aredisplaceable between open (separated) and closed positions. Opposedpairs of neck ring molds, carried (supported proximate their tops) bythe invert and neck ring holder mechanism, define the finish of thebottle and hold a formed parison as it is transferred from the blankstation to the blow station.

The length of a parison generally corresponds to the length of a formedbottle and hence the height of the blankmolds may have a wide variety ofheights. The blankmolds are conventionally hung, proximate their tops,from suitable carriers such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,516,352 and4,878,935 which try to locate the bottle centrally relative to the axisof the invert and neck ring holder mechanism, whereby the finish of theformed parison will be within a wide range of vertical positions. Thevertical location of the neck ring arms accordingly will be changed tofollow the finish location and to facilitate this change, quick changeneck ring arms have been developed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,291).

Since the closed neck rings lie proximate the top of the tooling of aplunger mechanism (either a press and blow plunger or a blow and blowplunger) such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,272,273, 3,314,775, and3,190,188, the plunger mechanism will be relocated vertically to followthe neck rings. To this end, since the introduction of the I.S. machinemore than 50 years ago, the plunger mechanism, which defines a smallhole in the parison at the finish end, has been mounted on a jack screwwhich is secured to the bottom wall of the section frame. The jack screwcan be rotated to raise and lower the plunger mechanism to follow thevertical relocation of the neck ring holders. A conventional plungermechanism has a vertical stroke (a positioning range) of as much as 8".The plunger mechanism is vertically displaceable relative to a guidering which is secured to the top wall of the section frame and guidesthe vertical movement of the plunger mechanism. As a result, any attemptto change the position of the plungers of the plunger mechanism, bydisplacing the guide ring, to establish alignment between the plunger ofthe plunger mechanism and the axis of the mold, will tilt the plungermechanism relative to the fixed base and this is very undesirable.Furthermore, to convert the section from single gob operation to doublegob operation or to switch from double gob operation at one spacing todouble gob operation at a different spacing, for example, the entireplunger mechanism above the jack screw must be changed. This is madeeven more difficult since all service air lines (as well as alllubrication lines) which connect to the plunger mechanism via individualhoses, must be individually disconnected and reconnected, and, where theconfiguration of the machine is changed from double gob operation totriple gob operation, for example, new lines have to be defined.Additionally, since the molds are hung from structure proximate theirtop, growth due to heat occurs downwardly towards the plunger mechanismand may require repositioning of the neck ring holders and plungermechanism.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide animproved plunger mechanism for an I.S. machine.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following portion of this specification and from theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a presently preferred embodimentincorporating the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an I.S. machine having a number ofidentical sections each having a blank station and a blow station;

FIG. 2 is an oblique view of one of the section stations schematicallyshowing a mold open and close mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an oblique view showing the interconnection of one of the moldsupport mechanisms shown in FIG. 2 with its lead screw drive assembly;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational cross sectional view of the lead screwdrive assembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the lead screw drive assembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an oblique view of a transmission housing design separatedfrom its support;

FIG. 7 is an oblique view illustrating how a mold support mechanism issupported for linear displacement in a direction perpendicular to theclamping plane;

FIG. 8 is an oblique view of the invert and neck ring holder mechanismfor delivering parisons from the blankmolds to the blowmolds;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 illustrating a second way fora mold support mechanism to be supported for linear displacement;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 illustrating thetransmission housing design for the embodiment shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the mold supportmechanism illustrated in FIG. 9 showing how one of the round shafts cancompensate for heat growth;

FIG. 12 is an oblique view illustrating a shield for the lead screw andtransmission;

FIG. 13 is an oblique view illustrating the machine bed for supportingthe individual sections of the I.S. machine;

FIG. 14 is an oblique view of a portion of the machine bed;

FIG. 15 is a first electronic schematic diagram for the drive for a moldopening and closing mechanism;

FIG. 15A is an alternate electronic schematic diagram for the drive fora mold opening and closing mechanism;

FIG. 16 is a first flow chart illustrating the control algorithm for amold opening and closing mechanism;

FIG. 16A is a second flow chart illustrating an alternate controlalgorithm for a mold opening and closing mechanism;

FIG. 17 is an oblique view looking at the blank station end of thesection showing a baffle mechanism mounted to the top wall of thesection frame at a corner thereof;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the drive portion of the bafflemechanism shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an elevational cross sectional view showing a baffle above ablankmold of the I.S. machine;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 showing a baffle engaging ablankmold in a first condition;

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 19 showing a baffle engaging ablankmold in a second condition;

FIG. 22 is an oblique view of a baffle; and

FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the control forthe baffle mechanism.

FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 17 showing a funnel mechanism mountedon the section frame;

FIG. 25 is an oblique view of an alternate embodiment of an invert andneck ring holder mechanism for use with the mold opening and closingmechanism shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 26 is a view taken at 26--26 of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is an axial view of the juncture of the worm gear housing andthe motor housing;

FIG. 28 is a flow diagram illustrating the invert algorithm;

FIG. 29 is a flow diagram illustrating the neck ring open algorithm;

FIG. 30 is a flow diagram illustrating the revert algorithm;

FIG. 31 is an oblique view of a the blank station plunger mechanismshown partially in FIG. 17;

FIG. 32 is an oblique view of a single plunger canister;

FIG. 33 is an oblique view of the plunger mounting plate;

FIG. 34 is an oblique, separated view illustrating the connection of thefirst four service ducts to bottom of a plunger distribution base;

FIG. 35 is an oblique view looking at the front face of a conjunctionbox;

FIG. 36 is an oblique view of the top surface of the conjunction box;

FIG. 37 is an oblique view looking at the top and front faces of theplunger distribution base;

FIG. 38 is an oblique view of the plunger transition plate;

FIG. 38A is a view similar to FIG. 38 showing an alternate plungertransition plate;

FIG. 39 is a view similar to FIG. 31 showing an alternate mountingplate;

FIG. 40 is an oblique view of a portion of an neck ring holder having analternate configuration;

FIG. 41 is a side elevational view of a first mounting assembly showinga first mold half supported by a mold support insert;

FIG. 42 is a side elevational view of a second mounting assembly showinga second mold half supported by a mold support insert;

FIG. 43 is a side elevational view of a third mounting assembly showinga third mold half supported by a mold support insert; and

FIG. 44 is a schematic side elevational view showing a blankmoldsupported at a blank station and a blowmold supported at thecorresponding blow station;

FIG. 45 is an oblique view of a takeout mechanism made in accordancewith the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 46 is a schematic illustration of the displacement of the takeoutarm of the takeout mechanism shown in FIG. 45; and

FIG. 47 is a flow diagram of the "Z" offset algorithm of the takeoutmechanism control.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An I.S. machine 10 includes a plurality (usually 6, 8, 10, or 12) ofsections 11. A conventional section is made up of a box-like frame orsection box 11A (FIG. 2) which houses or supports section mechanisms.Each section has a blank station including a mold opening and closingmechanism 12 carrying blankmolds which receive discrete gobs of moltenglass and forms them into parisons and a blow station including a moldopening and closing mechanism 13 carrying blowmolds which receives theparisons and forms the parisons into bottles. One, two, three or fourgobs can be processed in each section, each cycle and the machine willbe referred to as a single gob, double gob, triple gob (the illustratedembodiment) or quadruple gob machine depending on the number of gobssimultaneously processed in each section during a cycle. The formedbottles are removed from the blow station by a take out mechanism (FIG.40) and transferred to a dead plate 14 and then transferred by a pushermechanism (not shown) to a conveyor 15 which takes the bottles away fromthe machine. The front of the machine (or section) is the end remotefrom the conveyor, the back of the machine is the end adjacent theconveyor and the sides of the machine or sections extend perpendicularlyto the conveyor. Side to side movement is movement parallel to theconveyor.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of a section 11 of a triple gob machine made inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention schematicallyshowing either molding station. The section 11 comprises a section frame11A which is generally in the form of a box, having a top wall 134 witha top surface 94 and side walls 132. Each mold open and close mechanismincludes an opposed pair of mold support mechanisms 16. Each moldsupport mechanism is connected to and operated by a drive assembly meanscomprising a rotary to linear transmission 18, mounted on top of thesection frame 11A and driven by a drive system 19 having a rotary outputto displace the associated mold support mechanism 16, linearly in asideways direction, between a retracted separated position and anadvanced position where the mold halves carried on an opposed pair ofmold support mechanisms will forcefully engage. The mold supportmechanisms for the blank station are identical and the mold supportmechanisms for the blow station are identical but a mold supportmechanism at the one station may be dimensionally different from a moldsupport mechanism at the other station as a result of differences in theprocess which would be well known to a man skilled in this art. Sincethe illustrated machine is a triple gob machine, each mold supportmechanism at the blank or blow station will support three mold halves(blankmolds or blowmolds) 17.

The interconnection of a mold support mechanism to its drive and themeans for displacing a mold support mechanism between advanced andretracted positions will now be described with reference to figures 3, 4and 5. FIGS. 4 and 5 show only a mold support mechanism which supportsmechanism associated with a single section, whereas FIG. 6 shows analternate housing which will support two mold support mechanisms whentwo sections are adjacent and only one when no section is adjacent. Thedrive system 19 includes a servo motor 66 (with any gearbox and/ordirection changer) having a rotary output in the form of a spindle 67(FIG. 4) which is connected to a lead screw 70 (ball or Acme, forexample), which has upper right hand and lower left hand threadportions, via a coupling 68. A housing 90 supports the lead screw 70.The lead screw is supported at its ends in the housing 90 in a verticalorientation in suitable single radial or duplex ball bearing assemblies99. The housing has a base portion 93 which is secured to the topsurface 94A, 94B (FIG. 6) of two adjacent section frames (the top wallof the section will be extended outwardly to support the housing whenthere is no adjacent section) by suitable screws 95, opposed side walls96 which include reinforcing ribs 97 and removable top portions 98. Thelead screw is connected to a rotary to linear transmission whichincludes nut means comprising a lower left hand nut 72 and an upperright hand nut 74 received by the lead screw. The rotary to lineartransmission additionally comprises means for interconnecting the nuts72, 74 with a mold support mechanism, comprising a first pair of jacklinks 76 connected at one end to the upper nut 74, a second pair of jacklinks 78 connected at one end to the lower nut 72, and a yoke 82 havinga horizontal bore 91 supporting a transverse, horizontal pivot shaft 80to which the other ends of the jack links 76, 78 are pivotally connected(sleeve or flange bushings are utilized to extend link life). The yoke82 also has a vertical bore 92 which pivotally receives a vertical pivotshaft 27 of the mold support mechanism. Rotation of the lead screw 70 inone direction will accordingly advance the mold support mechanismtowards the opposed mold support mechanism and vice versa. It can beseen that the jack links 76 and 78 provide a toggle linkage movablebetween an extended and a retracted condition and acting horizontallybetween the housing 90 and the mold support mechanism.

Each mold support mechanism has a carrier 30 and upper and lower inserts24 which support the mold halves and which are supported on the carrier30 by the shaft 27 which passes through vertical holes in the carrier30, the inserts 24, and the yoke 82. The yoke 82 is received in a pocket101 in the carrier 30. As can be seen from the drawings, the lead screwis vertical and adjacent the mold support mechanism and the rotary tolinear transmission, which interconnects the rotary output of the servomotor (the lead screw) and the mold support mechanism, is positionedcompactly between the lead screw and the mold support mechanism on topof the section top wall 134. The rotary to linear transmission islocated completely above the top of the section frame and applies a loadto the mold support mechanism through the yoke approximately at thecenter (vertically and horizontally) of the mold support mechanism(vertically, the axis of horizontal shaft 80 lies midway between theupper insert 24 and the lower insert 24 and horizontally, the axis ofvertical shaft 27 is located at the center of mass of the carrier 30(and inserts 24). The load which is transferred directly from thevertical shaft 27 to the upper and lower inserts 24 lies in a planeextending normally to the engagement plane of the molds and intersectingthe center of the molds (the center of the center mold or where thereare an even number of molds, midway between the center molds). Thedirection of this load is perpendicular to the plane of engagementbetween the opposed mold halves (the clamping plane) and since thevertical pivot shaft 27 rotatably receives both the inserts 24 and theyoke 82, and the yoke additionally rotatably supports the horizontalpivot shaft 80, which is connected to the toggle links, the inserts 24are not subjected to any twisting forces when a clamping load isapplied. The force applied by the rotary to linear transmission willaccordingly be transmitted directly to the inserts 24--the carrier 30 isnot in the force path of clamp loading.

Each nut 72, 74 comprises a flat rear bearing surface 84 which isassociated with a flat elongated vertical machined bearing surface 86defined on a rear wall 88 of the transmission housing (casting) 90. Whenthe mold support mechanism is retracted, a selected spacing (clearance)separates the rear bearing surface of the nuts 72, 74 from the verticalbearing surface 86 defined on the rear wall. The lead screw is selectedto have such a rigidity that when the mold supporting mechanisms areadvanced to bring the supported mold halves into clamping engagementwith the opposing mold halves and a desired load is appliedtherebetween, the lead screw 70 will deflect sufficiently to bring thenut bearing surfaces 84 into engagement with the wall bearing surface86. The lead screw housing 90 has sufficient rigidity to assure thatthis load can be applied and the removable top portion 98 can beadjusted, prior to fastening in place, to set the desired clearancebetween the bearing surface of the nuts and the wall bearing surface.The mold halves, the mold support mechanisms, the opposed transmissions,and the housing 90 will accordingly define a truss (made up oftriangular structures) supported above the top surface of the sectionframe to inhibit both vertical displacement (the truss will accordinglyisolate the support shafts from a downward load) or sideways(horizontal) separation of the mold halves from vertical loads appliedduring the forming process. To provide lubrication for the bearingsurfaces 84, 86, an oil groove 100 may be defined in the rear wallsurface 86 and oil can be supplied to this groove through suitablepassages extending through the lead screw housing 90. To minimizestiction, the machined surface may be impregnated with solid lubricant.To provide greater strength the lead screw housing 90 (FIG. 6) may beduplexed so that it can support lead screws from adjacent sections whichwill be connected to rotary to linear transmissions from those adjacentsections.

Each insert 24 (FIG. 7) comprises a first portion 26 which is pivotalabout the vertical pivot shaft 27 and which carries one of the moldhalves and a second portion 28 which carries the other two mold halvesand is connected via a pivot pin 29, to the first portion 26 at alocation that will assure that forces will be applied equally to eachmold. The pivot shaft 27 slidingly passes downwardly through the firstinsert portion 26 of the upper insert 24, through an upper wall 30A of acarrier 30, through the transmission yoke 82, through a lower wall 30Bof the carrier 30 and finally through the first portion 26 of the lowerinsert 24. A pair of pins 31, which extend downwardly through the upperinsert 24, through carrier 30 and through the lower insert 24, have aselected clearance relative to the insert portions to limit the desiredmotion of the first and second insert portions 26, 28.

The mold support mechanisms are, as will now be described, slidablymounted for movement on two parallel shafts 40, 50. The carrier 30,which extends in a direction parallel to the clamping plane, has anoutboard (remote from the invert and neck ring holder mechanism--FIG. 8)mounting flange 32 on one end. The mounting flange is secured bysuitable fasteners 34 to a block 35 which has a suitable cutout 38 forreceiving the flange and has a flat horizontal bearing surface 36 forriding on a flat horizontal bearing surface (way) 41 defined on a theshaft 40 which is square and is part of a bracket 42 which is secured tothe section frame proximate an end (the bracket 42 could optionally beformed as part of some other mechanism housing). Wipers (not shown) willkeep the way surface clean and lubricant can be supplied to the block sothat the bearing surfaces can be lubricated. The inboard (proximate theinvert and neck ring holder mechanism) end of the carrier 30 is securedby suitable fasteners 34 to an "L" shaped block 46 which is integralwith a bearing block 48 and has a cylindrical bearing surface whichslides on the cylindrical bearing surface of shaft 50.

An invert and neck ring holder mechanism 110 (FIG. 8) is mounted on thetop surface of a section box between the blank station and the blowstation. This mechanism has a pair of opposed neck ring holders 112which can be displaced from a separated position to the shown closedposition by suitable horizontally oriented pneumatic cylinders 114.These neck ring holders support opposed pairs of neck ring halves 115which close the bottom of the blankmolds when the mold halves are closedand which, when the neck rings are closed, define the finish (threads)116 of the parison and ultimately the bottle. When the finish has beenformed, the neck ring holders 112 will be rotated 180° by the invert andneck ring holder mechanism by operating a servomotor 108 to rotate adrive shaft in the form of a worm (not shown) supported by a wormhousing 118 which rotates a worm gear which is supported within asuitable worm gear housing 120. The invert and neck ring holdermechanism cylinders 114 are suitably supported between opposed spacedvertical supports or brackets 122 and the worm gear housing. Thevertical worm housing 118 and the invert brackets 122 are secured to thetop surface of the section frame.

As can be seen from FIG. 8, the round shaft 50 for the blank side moldopening and closing mechanism, which is located proximate the invert andneck ring holder mechanism, is supported at either end by the opposedinvert brackets 122. The round shaft for the blow side mold opening andclosing mechanism is a two part round shaft 50A, 50B. These shafts aremounted coaxially and each is supported at one end by an invert bracket122 and at the other end by vertical worm housing 118. The square shafts40 enable the carrier, whether at the blank station or at the blowstation, to expand with an increase in temperature in a uniformdirection away from the invert axis (the center of the section).

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 9-11, two round shafts 50C can bemounted directly on the carrier 30. The free end of these shafts isslidably received by suitable bearings 170 (FIG. 10) located withinsuitable bores 171 in a pair of mounting blocks 172 which are designedto be integral with the lead screw housing 90. Each mounting block has apair of vertically spaced bearings 170 for receiving a round shaft 50Cfrom mold support mechanisms of adjacent sections. Each pair of roundshafts associated with a particular section (one upper and one lower)are vertically located equidistant above and below the axis of thehorizontal yoke pivot shaft 80. Since heat growth of the drive housingwill not be as great as heat growth of the carrier 30 a compensationmechanism is built into the carrier so that a carrier, whether at theblow station or at the blank station, will expand with an increase intemperature in a uniform direction away from the center (the invertaxis) of the section. As shown in FIG. 11, a screw 174 interconnects akey 176 on one side of the carrier 30, which is slidable horizontally inan elongated horizontal keyway 177, with the outboard round shaft 50C onthe other side of the carrier. The carrier bores 178 and 179 thatreceive the round shaft and the screw have sufficient clearance topermit the key to slide horizontally in its keyway (relatively) toenable this round shaft to maintain its parallelism with the other roundshaft through a range of environment temperatures.

In both the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and the embodiment shown in FIGS.9 and 10, each carrier is supported on a round shaft located between theinvert axis and the center of the mold open and close mechanism whilebeing supported on the other side of the center of the mold open andclose mechanism on a shaft which can accommodate a temperature drivenexpansion away from the invert and neck ring holder mechanism axis. Thismeans that temperature expansion at both the blow station and the blankstation will proceed in the same direction (away from the invert andneck ring holder mechanism axis). This has never been previouslyachieved. In all prior I.S. machines, expansion at the blank side occurstowards the invert and neck ring holder mechanism whereas expansion atthe blow side occurs away from the invert and neck ring holdermechanism. In this regard, the expansion at the blank and blow stationsis always in the same direction as the neck ring holder allowing forbetter machine alignment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a shield structure for one of the lead screwhousings. As shown, the carrier is fully retracted. The shield has afront inclined wall 52 which is coextensive with the top of the carrier30 and which is connected to the rear top edge of the carrier by a hinge53. The shield also has sides 54 which are integral with the inclinedtop portion along each edge 56 of the top portion. Each side has avertical portion 57 which covers the end of the carrier in thisretracted position. A shield control, in the form of a flap 58 connectedto the front edge of the top portion 98 at a hinge 60, is receivedwithin opposed inwardly projecting brackets 61 secured to the inclinedfront wall 52 of the shield. At the retracted position the top edge ofthe shield is proximate the hinge 60. When the carrier is advanced, thetop portion of the shield (and the flap) will become less inclined andthe flap and the top portion will move relatively to accommodate thedisplacement.

With the transmissions of the mold open and closed mechanisms locatedabove the top wall of the section frame and with the transmissionspowered by electronic motors which are mounted, as shown, to extenddownwardly from the top wall of the section frame, the floor portion ofthe section frame, which conventionally is filled with these motors (aircylinders) and transmissions (linkages), becomes open. The sectionframes 11A of the machine (there may be 6, 8, 10, etc.) are mounted onthe machine base, which is defined by a number of two-section beds 130(FIG. 13) which are connected together. Each two-section bed 130 hasside 132 and top 134 walls. The two-section bed has passage meansextending from one side to the other side of the bed continuous withrectangular openings 136 in the bed sides 132, which are separated by aside wall rib 137 for slidably receiving a plurality (eight in thepreferred embodiment) of seamless square fluid ducts 138 which extendthe entire width of the machine. The ducts are supplied with pneumaticservices, cooling air, process air, lubrication, and process vacuum,etc., as required. The top wall 134 has blank station openings 140 andblow station openings 142 which expose these fluid ducts 138 within eachof the section boxes. Section cables and wiring extend beneath the fluidducts in suitable conduits and come up through the space between theduct groups and through wiring ports 145 defined in the bed top wall 134for connection to individual mechanisms.

The ducts 138, which run from one end of the machine to the other andwhich are connected to suitable sources, are releasably clamped to eachtwo section bed by a clamping structure (FIG. 14) which includes an "I",beam 147, which underlies all of the ducts, and a toggle device 148 atthe front and back of the bed which is connected between the "I" beamand the top wall of the bed. Each toggle device has a toggle operatingscrew 149 which has an engagable head 151, and which can access theducts 138 through suitable bed openings 153. Rotation of the operatingscrew in one direction will push the ducts against the side wall ribs137 and elevate them upwardly into forced engagement with a rib 143which projects downwardly from the top wall 134 of the two section base.Should it be necessary to remove one of these ducts and replace it withtwo ducts, for example, the duct clamping mechanism can be released byrotation of the engagable head of the toggle mechanisms in the oppositedirection so that the duct can be slidingly removed and replaced withmultiple side by side ducts (ducts can be added or deleted to define thenumber of ducts desired).

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, each motor of a mold opening and closingmechanism operates in a conventional manner where feedback signals aresupplied to a motion controller, which controls the servo amplifiersthat operate the motors (servo motors). As shown, the motors areelectronically geared together. Motor/encoder number 1 (the master)M1/154 follows the demand signal from the motion controller 155 commandposition sequencer 150. The signal from the motion controller positionfeedback processor 152 which receives a digital feedback signal from theencoder portion of motor/encoder number 1 is supplied to the summingcircuit 156. The summing circuit outputs to the command signal processor158 a digital signal which is supplied to the amplifier 160 whichoperates the number 1 motor/encoder. The motion controller commandposition sequencer receives a signal from the summing circuit 156 whichis processed into a demand signal and sent to a second summing circuit161 which also receives a signal from the position feedback processor166 which receives a digital feedback signal from the encoder portion ofmotor/encoder no. 2 (M2/168) and outputs a digital signal. This signalis converted by the second amplifier command signal processor 159 whichsupplies the signal to the second amplifier 162 which operatesmotor/encoder number 2 (the slave) 168.

The separation between the mold halves, when the mold carriers are fullyretracted (each is at the start position), can be determined and halfwaytherebetween is the ideal center point of mold movement. The initialstep of the feed program is for the Command Position Sequencer 150 todefine a displacement profile that will operate the motors (M1, M2),which are electronically geared together, to displace the moldsassociated with those motors to that ideal center point. To verify thatthe displacement of both mold carriers has been completed, the velocityof each motor is tested and if the velocity of one motor (MV1) and thevelocity of the other motor (MV2) is zero the next step in the feedprogram will begin with the Command Position Sequencer issuing avelocity profile that will drive both motors at a very slow velocity(V_(s))--this can be any command that will cause the motors to run).When the actual velocity of each motor again becomes zero, adetermination is made to verify that the actual end position of theadvanced mold carrier is within an acceptable error (±"X" from the idealcenter point). The encoder associated with each motor provides data fromwhich the actual end position can be determined. If the mold carriersare acceptably located, the third step of the feed program proceeds withthe running of each motor to apply a selected torque for a set period oftime ("T1") which can be inputted via a computer. This time period isthe time period when the mold halves will be clamped together. When thistime runs out, each mold carrier is returned to its "0" or startposition. As shown, to return the mold support mechanisms to their startpositions, each motor is operated at a slow velocity-VS, with the minussign signifying rotation in the opposite direction (which can beset--the arrow represents a computer input) for a limited period of timeT2 (which also can be set--the arrow represents a computer input) to"crack" the molds before the mold holders are withdrawn to the "O"position at a rapid velocity-VR (an open profile--a constantacceleration segment followed by a constant deceleration segment endingat the start position, for example).

A second algorithm for controlling the two servo motors is shown in FIG.15A. In this embodiment the Motion Controller includes a CommandPosition Sequencer for each motor. The motors are accordingly notelectronically geared together. As shown in FIG. 16A, each motor issimultaneously operated to displace its associated mold holder, inaccordance with a predetermined feed profile(displacement/velocity/acceleration profile) to an ideal center position(one half the total distance plus a selected distance which shouldresult in the opposed mold holders engaging and thereby coming to astop). The fact that the two mold holders have stopped is verified (theerror signal can be monitored) and the actual position of each moldholder is determined and compared to the ideal midpoint position. If theactual position of each mold holder is located ±X from the idealmidpoint position, infeed is acceptable. If this is not the case anerror signal will be produced. The actual midpoint is determined (thetotal distance traveled by both mold holders divided by two) and definesa new ideal midpoint. If one mold holder traveled farther than the other(more than an acceptable difference) the control will define a scalingfactor for the feed profile for one of the motors that will either speedup the displacement or slow down the displacement to reduce thedifference in the distance traveled by the two mold holders. The controlwill then apply the required torque to the motors and continue theprogram shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 17 shows a baffle mechanism 180 mounted on the top wall 134 of asection frame 11A. A carrier arm 182 which supports three baffles 184(the baffle mechanism is shown schematically since there are a greatvariety of specific designs) is connected to a vertical actuating rod186. This actuating rod will be elevated and rotated during theuppermost portion of its elevation so that the baffles can be displacedbetween an elevated, retracted position and a lowered advanced positionwhere the baffles will be located on top of the blank molds. Thiscompound displacement is effected by a servomotor 188 (FIG. 18) whichhas a rotary output 190 which is connected via a coupling device 192 toa screw 194. The screw is threadedly connected to a nut 196 which isfree to rotate within a suitable bore 198 in a cam housing 199. A camfollower, in the form of a roller 202 rides in a barrel cam 204 definedin the wall 206 of the cam housing. The vertical actuating rod 186 ismounted on the top of the nut. As can be seen from FIG. 17, the camhousing has a base 208 which is bolted 209 to the top wall 134 of thesection frame 11A at a front corner of the section frame defined by aside wall 132 and the front wall 135. At the advanced location, the axesof the baffles are coaxial with the axes of the closed blankmolds and ontop of the blankmolds. When the cam is operated the baffles will firstpartially elevate away from the blankmolds and then while the bafflesare elevated the rest of the way, the baffles will be displaced awayfrom the center of the blankmolds so that the invert and neck ringholder mechanism can transfer formed parisons to the blowmolds. Thebaffle mechanism can be located at the front of the section frame ineither corner and unlike conventional baffle mechanisms, the fullyelevated and retracted baffle arm can be located fully within thesection as shown in FIG. 17 and not overly an adjacent section.

A baffle (FIG. 19) has a body 248 which includes a cup shaped portion250 having an annular inclined sealing surface 252 extending around itsopen bottom for engaging and sealing a corresponding surface 254 at thetop of the open blankmold. The body 248 also includes a vertical tubularsleeve portion 256 which defines a cylindrical bearing surface 258 forslidably receiving the rod 260 of a piston element 262. The cylindricalhead 264 of the piston element 262 has an annular sealing surface 265which is slidingly displaceable within the bore 266 of the cup shapedportion 250. A spring 268, which is located around the vertical tubularsleeve portion 256, is compressed between a collar 270 which isreleasably secured to the carrier arm and which is secured to the pistonrod 260 and the top of the cup shaped portion 250, to maintain the topsurface of the cylindrical head 264 in engagement with the adjacentsurface of the cup shaped portion when the baffle is separated from theblankmold.

When the baffle is lowered onto a blankmold as shown in FIG. 20, thecontrol (FIG. 23) will displace the collar 270 downwardly until the topof the collar is located a first distance D1 from the top surface 272 ofthe blankmold where the cylindrical head will be lowered, relative tothe cup shaped portion, to define a desired clearance "X" between thebottom annular surface 274 of the piston cylindrical head and the topsurface of the blankmold (the cylindrical head has moved relative to thecup shaped portion a vertical distance "y"). This applies a desiredcompressive force between the piston element and the blankmold toestablish the desired seal between the engaging inclined annularsurfaces 252, 254. Now settle air introduced into the blankmold throughthe central bore 276 in the piston rod will pass through a number ofradially extending holes 278 in the cylindrical head into acorresponding number of vertical holes 280 and through the annular gapbetween the annular bottom surface 281 of the cylindrical head and thetop surface 272 of the blowmold into the blankmold (suitable holes 282which connect the interior of the body to atmosphere assure that thecylindrical head can move smoothly relative to the body). When settleblow is complete and the gob is to be formed into a parison, the collaris displaced until the top of the collar is located a second distance D2from the top surface 272 of the blankmold. This results in the bottomannular surface 281 of the cylindrical head forcefully engaging the topsurface 272 of the blankmold to close the blankmold. As the parison isformed (forced to fill the internal cavity defined by the inner surfaceof the blankmold and the bottom surface of the cylindrical head) air canescape through a number (four in the preferred embodiment) of smallnotches 286 defined in the bottom annular surface 281 of the cylindricalhead (FIG. 22) into the vertical holes 280, through the radial holes 278into the piston rod bore 276 and out through now exposed escape bores290 into the space between the top of the piston and the cup shapedportion 250 and out the relief openings 282.

When a funnel mechanism 210 is required it can be mounted in the otherfront corner. As can be seen from FIG. 24, the baffle and funnelmechanisms are identical except for the direction of the barrel cam andexcept that a funnel carrier 212 supporting three funnels 214 is mountedon the other actuator rod. The funnel mechanism, like the bafflemechanism, can be always located within the territory of its ownsection.

FIG. 25 illustrates an alternate invert and neck ring holder mechanism110. As shown, this invert and neck ring holder mechanism can be usedwith the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-10. The end of each neck ringholder adjacent the worm gear housing 120 ends in a slotted mountingbracket 113 which is slidingly received by the keyed end 109 of asupport bracket 117 secured to an invert cylinder 114. The annularoutboard end 119 of a cylinder 114 (FIG. 26) slides within acorresponding annular groove 121 in the top of the related outboard sidebracket 122A. The threaded end 123 of a proximity switch or sensor 124is threaded into a suitable bore 125 in the side bracket and secured bya nut 126 at the location where it will sense the cylinder at its fullyinserted position (neck ring holder retracted) The proximity switchcable 128 extends downwardly through a hole (not shown) in the sidebracket and the proximity switch is protected by a cover 129. Anadditional pair of proximity switches 124A (FIG. 27) are mounted on abracket 131 which is secured to the worm housing 118. These proximityswitches are located beneath the worm gear housing 120 with one facingeach cylinder. Secured to the end of each cylinder, proximate the wormgear housing, is a semi circular target 133 which will operate anassociated one of these proximity switches when that cylinder is locatedagainst the worm gear housing from the location where the neck ringholder is at a first orientation whereat the neck ring halves carried bythe neck ring holder are on top of the plunger mechanism (the 180°invert start position) to a second orientation (about 180° away from thefirst orientation) whereat the neck ring halves are holding parisons atthe blow station (the 0° invert end position). Hereinafter, the phrasesneck ring closed and neck ring open will be used to describe theposition of the neck ring holder/bracket/cylinder and the controls willbe described with reference to one neck ring holder but the other neckring holder is controlled in the same manner. Since the servo motor 108has an encoder which generates a position feedback, the angular positionof the neck ring holder is known throughout its angular displacement.

The algorithm illustrated in FIG. 28 will identify operational problemsduring invert. The status of the neck ring closed sensor 124A will becontinuously monitored as the invert servo 108 advances the worm torotate the gear and the neck ring from the start invert location (180°)to the end invert location (0°). Should the neck ring not maintain itsclosed position throughout this 180° displacement, an alarm signal willbe sent. This signal could either stop the cycle or initiate any desiredlesser action.

The algorithm illustrated in FIG. 29 will assure that the time ofarrival of the neck ring at the open position will be constant. The neckring cylinder will be operated at a set time in the cycle (time T) todisplace the neck ring from the closed position sensed by sensor 124A onthe gear housing to the open position sensed by sensor 124 on the endbracket. The time between these two signals is timed "ΔT" and comparedto an ideal time difference (the original time difference) and a time("T") offset, which is the difference between the actual and ideal timedifference, is supplied to the control which operates the neck ringcylinder. In the event that the "T" offset becomes excessive or erratic,an alarm signal will be issued to effect any desired consequence fromcycle stoppage, to an operator warning that maintenance is required.

FIG. 30 illustrates the revert algorithm. The neck rings will be openedat the blow station to release a completed bottle and before the arm canbe rotated 180° to the blank station, the control must verify that theneck ring is at the open position. With such verification, the invertservo will be operated to effect the desired angular displacement. At aselected angle of rotation (θ1 ideal) the control will operate the neckring cylinder to displace the cylinder (the neck ring) from the openposition to the closed position. Such action will be confined by limitsincluding the limits that θ1 has to be greater than X° and that themovement of the neck ring must be complete by Y°. X, Y, and θ1 areindividually setable. The control determines the actual angle (θ1actual) when the neck ring open sensor 124 is switched off anddetermines a θ1 offset #1 by subtracting θ1 actual from θ1 ideal. Thisoffset is supplied to the control to correct the location where the neckring cylinder is operated. When this offset becomes excessive or erratican alarm signal is sent.

The control additionally monitors when the neck ring reaches the closedposition determining the angle θ2 actual when the neck ring closedsensor 124A senses the neck ring. The cylinders are conventionally airoperated and the time for a cylinder to be pneumatically displaced fromthe neck ring open position to the neck ring closed position can dependon the condition of the pneumatic cylinder. As the operation of thecylinder degrades, it can take longer for the desired displacement totake place and such lateness may cause the moving structure (the neckring structure) to impact the blank molds that normally would be out ofthe way. The control determines a second θ1 offset (θ2 ideal-θ2 actual)and makes a second correction to the angle when the neck ring isoperated. When this degradation reaches a selectable angle indicative ofthe need for action, the control will issue a suitable signal indicatingthat repair and/or maintenance is in order. Since each angulardisplacement of the encoder is a function of time, these offsets couldbe correlated to tracked differences of time. These offsets assure thatcycle events occur at constant times.

A plunger mechanism, which is part of the blank station of a section, isshown in FIGS. 31 and 32, and includes three plunger canisters 62, asshown, where the machine is a triple gob machine. Each plunger canisterhas an upper cylinder portion 63 and a lower cylinder portion 64 withplugs 65 supporting "O" ring seals 71 and an exhaust duct 73 extendingaxially downwardly from the bottom surface 75 of the lower cylinder toconnect the plunger canister to required services (plunger cooling,exhaust, plunger down, plunger up, counterblow/vacuum (in blow and blowmachines) or plunger cooling (in press and blow machines), lubrication,separate thimble up). The canister may exhaust through the uppercylinder and in that case the exhaust duct and associated ducting shownwould not be required. For clarity the plunger mechanism will bedescribed in a blow and blow machine but where counterblow/vacuum isdescribed it should be understood that this would be plunger cooling ina press and blow machine. Secured to the top of each upper cylinder is amounting plate or flange 77 and tooling 79 which has opposed ears 81 tocapture the opposed neck ring halves as the neck ring holders areclosed. These mounting plates 77 are secured with suitable fasteners 83to the top surface of a mounting block or plate 85 which has holes 87(FIG. 33) through which the upper/lower cylinders can pass and themounting block is fastened to the top surface 94 of the section frame 11with suitable bolts 89. On the top portion of the upper cylinder islocated a locating diameter 69. The top surface of the section frame hasa large opening (not shown) which can accommodate the plunger cartridgeswhether single, double or triple gob. The top surface 94 of the sectionframe is accordingly the master surface. It is preferably machined, atthe location where the mounting block is to be secured, to define aprecisely horizontal mounting pad. The top (or an area or pad on whichthe flanges are to be mounted) and bottom surfaces of the mounting blockpreferably are machined to be parallel and the height of the mountingblock is defined to locate the tooling at the desired height. By alsodefining the mounting block cylindrical openings 87 to matingly receivethe locating diameter of the plunger canisters, the axes of theseplunger canisters will be precisely located upon insertion. By locatingdiamond and round pins not shown) on the top wall of the section frameand defining suitable holes in the bottom surface of the mounting plate,the mounting plate will be automatically located. Since the top of theplunger canister is secured to the top wall of the section frame, growthresulting from heat will not significantly vary the location of top ofthe tooling.

The first four fluid ducts underlying the blank side of a section (FIG.34) are pneumatic services for plunger down (duct 300-approximately 3.1Bar), counterblow (duct 302-approximately 2-3 Bar), vacuum (duct 304)and plunger up (duct 306-approximately 1.5-2.5 Bar). Connection of theseservices, via holes 307 in the top wall of the ducts, is established tovertical inlets 308 in the bottom surface 310 of a plunger distributionbase 312 via corresponding holes 314 in a connection plate 316. The fourpneumatic services are routed through the plunger distribution base tooutlet ports 320 in the front face 321 of the plunger distribution base.A fifth fluid duct 301 underlying the bottom wall of the blank stationof a section (FIG. 34) carries pressurized lubrication fluid. Thelubricant passes through a hole 303 in the top wall of the lubricationduct, through a hole 311 in the connection plate and into a lubricationinlet 305 in the bottom surface of the plunger distribution base whichsupplies the lubrication via an outlet port 309 on the front face.Effective sealing is achieved with "O" rings 318 compressively locatedbetween either surface of the connection plate 316 and the top surfaceof the ducts and the bottom surface 310 of the plunger distribution basewhen the plunger distribution base is bolted onto the bottom wall of thesection frame. A cross hole 322 is defined in the plunger distributionbase for receiving a crank 323 operated isolation rod (valve) 324 whichcan be rotated from an open orientation where the pneumatic services andlubrication can flow through holes 325 to the outlet ports, to a closedorientation where such flow is blocked.

Connected to the front face 321 of the plunger distribution base is aconjunction box 330 (FIG. 35) which includes five service inlet ports(320A, 309A) on the rear face which communicate with the service outletports 320 and 309 of the plunger distribution base ("O" rings 326provide the sealing). The illustrated embodiment is a triple gobconfiguration which means that the blank station of each sectionincludes three plunger canisters such as shown in FIG. 32, i.e., aninner plunger canister (the one nearest the invert and neck ring holdermechanism axis), a middle plunger canister and an outer plungercanister. Each individual pneumatic service input (plunger up, vacuum,counterblow, plunger down) and the lubrication line is split in theconjunction box into three outputs, one for each of the three plungercanisters. On the left portion of the front face 332 of the conjunctionbox are located, for the inner, middle and outer plunger canisters (thevertical arrows, "inner canister", etc., in FIG. 35, identify verticallyarranged groups of ports on the front face that are associated with aparticular canister and the horizontal arrows, "to canister", etc.,identify horizontal groups of ports that are associated with aparticular function), three outlet ports 334 for the plunger up service,which originate with the single plunger up inlet port, three exhaustports 336 which communicate with exhaust and three "to canister" inletports 338 which communicate with three corresponding outlet portsdefined in the rear face of the conjunction box (not shown) whichcommunicate with corresponding "plunger up" inlet ports 360 defined inthe front face 321 of the plunger distribution base (FIG. 37). Flow foreach vertically arranged group of ports on this left portion of thefront face may be controlled by a device which can regulate the pressuresuch as regulator/valve and receiver tank (not shown for clarity) whichwill either connect the "to canister" line to plunger up service or toexhaust. On the right portion of the front face of the conjunction box(FIG. 35) also are located, for the inner, middle and outer plungercanisters, three service outlet ports 340 for vacuum, each originatingwith the single vacuum inlet port, three counterblow outlet ports 342each originating with the single counterblow inlet port for counterblowservice services, three "to canister" inlet ports 344 which communicatewith three corresponding outlet ports defined in the rear face of theconjunction box which communicate with corresponding"counterblow/vacuum" inlet ports 364 defined in the front face 321 ofthe plunger distribution base (FIG. 37) and three exhaust ports 346communicating with exhaust. Here a regulator and valve (not shown)operates in conjunction with a pilot operated valve (not shown) toconnect the "to canister" inlet ports either to vacuum or counterblow orto exhaust. Located on the right side of the top face 348 of theconjunction block (FIG. 36) are, for the inner, middle and outer plungercanisters, three plunger down service outlet ports 352 which originatewith the single plunger down inlet port for plunger down service, threeinlet ports 350 communicating with three corresponding outlet portsdefined in the rear face of the conjunction box which communicate withcorresponding "plunger down" inlet ports 362 defined in the front face321 of the plunger distribution base (FIG. 37) and three exhaust ports354 which communicate with exhaust. The flow of each vertical group ofports is controlled by an individual regulator and valve (not shown forclarity) which will either connect the "to canister" line to plungerdown service or to exhaust. Located on the left side of the top face 348of the conjunction block are, for the inner, middle and outerplunger-canisters, three thimble up service outlet ports 351 for thethimble up service which communicate with a plunger down line, three "tocanister" inlet ports 353 communicating with three corresponding outletports defined in the rear face of the conjunction box which communicatewith corresponding "thimble up" inlet ports 363 defined in the frontface 321 of the plunger distribution base (FIG. 37) and three exhaustports 355 which communicate with exhaust. The flow of each verticalgroup of ports is controlled by an individual regulator and valve (notshown for clarity) which will either connect the "to canister" line tothimble up service or to exhaust. The conjunction box also splits thelubrication line into three lines which supply three lubrication inputports 313 (FIG. 37) on the front face of the plunger distribution base.

Referring to FIG. 37, the front face of the plunger distribution basealso includes a number of additional inlets 365 for additional fluidfunctions such as neck ring cooling, take out tong closing, cooling air,neck ring open/close, etc., which connect with corresponding conduits inthe conjunction box. These conjunction box lines can connect to outletsin the top surface of the conjunction box (not shown) which areconnected to corresponding outlets in a corresponding number ofindividual regulators and valves (not shown for clarity) whichdistribute air from the plunger down line, regulated to the desiredpressures.

The top surface 315 of the plunger distribution plate has three sets ofoutlet ports each having a plunger up outlet port 366, a plunger downoutlet port 368, a counterblow/vacuum outlet port 370, a thimble upoutlet port 372 and a lubrication outlet port 374. These outlet portsare universal (permanent), i.e., the number of sets of outlet holescorresponds to the maximum number of gobs to be processed in thesection.

To define a specific plunger configuration (single, double or triplegob) and to define a defined plunger spacing (51/4", 6" for example), inthe event there are multiple plungers, a transition plate 376 (FIG. 38)is secured to the top surface 315 of the universal plunger distributionplate via suitable bolts 377. The transition plate has, for eachcanister, a plunger up outlet hole 380, a plunger down outlet hole 382,a counterblow/vacuum outlet hole 384, a thimble up outlet hole 386 and alubrication services outlet hole 388 in the top surface 390 forreceiving the downwardly projecting connecting stubs 65 on the plungercanisters (an "O" ring 71 establishes the seal between a downwardlyprojecting stub and its receiving hole--any movement of a plungercanister, either within its mounting plate hole or as a part of themounting plate, will not result in the tilting of the canisters sincesufficient float is assured via the "O" ring seals on the receivingholes of the transition plate) and a plunger exhaust hole 392 is shapedto receive the depending plunger exhaust pipe 73 of a plunger canister.The plunger exhaust holes communicate with a discharge opening 378.

To change the section from one configuration to another, i.e., to changefrom the illustrated triple gob operation to double gob operation, forexample, the illustrated triple gob transition plate will be removed andreplaced with a double gob transition plate (FIG. 38A) which will sealoff one of the three sets of plunger output ports on the top surface ofthe plunger distribution plate while establishing connections to thethird set of ports (the plunger mechanism control will be modified sothat only the valves, etc. associated with the two sets of ports in thetransition plate will be operated).

To accommodate the manufacture of bottles having a substantial heightvariation, the neck rings/plunger canister(s) can be elevated byapproximately 70 mm. The original transition plate having a height H1and the mounting plate having a thickness D1 can be replaced with atransition plate and mounting plate each having a height increased by 70mm (H2--FIG. 38 and D2--FIG. 39, respectively) and the neck ring holdercan be replaced with alternate arms wherein the mounting bracket 113Aelevates the neck ring holder 112 70 mm from position P1 (FIG. 25) toposition P2 (FIG. 39). The fixed stop 111, which locates the mountingbrackets, is shown in FIG. 40.

As can be seen from FIGS. 41-43, the machine, with a given pair of neckring holders, can use blankmolds having a wide range of heights toproduce bottles having a wide range of heights. While the blankmold half17A, 17B, 17C, 17D (FIGS. 41-43) and the insert can take various forms,the interconnection of the blankmold half and the insert is defined toestablish a fixed vertical dimension "H" between the invert center 434and the top surface 438 of the blankmold halve neck ring groove 436 (thetop surface of the neck ring). For a neck ring holder located at P1(FIG. 25), this dimension could for example be 100 mm whereas thisdimension could for example be 30 mm when the neck ring is located at P2(FIG. 40) Each blankmold half has a downwardly projecting annularlyextending hook shaped lip 440 proximate the bottom surface which canhave a number of annular portions or segments and which is received by acorresponding upwardly projecting annularly extending hook shaped lip442 in the outer wall of the insert which vertically locates theblankmold halves (the blankmold is vertically located at the horizontalplane of engagement between the downwardly projecting blankmold lip andthe upwardly projecting lip of the mold support insert). The blankmoldhalf may be of sufficient size that a stabilizing button 442 may berequired vertically above the lower lip which operates with an uppermold half lip 440 to stabilize the mold during its movement (as shown,the stabilizing button 442 does not support the weight of the blankmoldhalf). Since the blankmold halves are supported proximate the neck ringgroove at the location where the mold lip is supported by the lip on themold support, substantially all growth of the blankmolds due to heatwill occur upwardly from this location and any growth from this locationdownwardly will be insignificant (without requiring any adjustment ofthe plunger mechanism or neck ring, which is conventionally required inprior art structures where the blankmolds are supported proximate thetop of the mold. Additionally, by using conventional blowmolds 380 (FIG.44) which are hung from the top via a downwardly projecting, annularlyextending lip 382 having a number of segments supported by acorresponding upwardly projecting, annularly extending lip on the blowmold support insert (not shown), which also can have a number ofsegments (at a location proximate the neck ring groove), expansion ofthe blowmold halves due to heat will also occur in the direction awayfrom the finish (the threaded portion) thereby being consistent at bothstations.

As can be appreciated, while in the prior art, to shift from oneconfiguration (single, double, triple gob) at one center distance to thesame or a different configuration at a different center distance, oftenrequired the purchase of a different I.S. machine or a substantialrebuilding of an existing machine. The primary reason for this is thecomplicated mold open and close linkages which defined differentgeometries. The disclosed I.S. machine is a universal center distancemachine. It can be changed from any desired configuration/centerdistance to any other desired configuration/center distance simply byreplacing a number of parts which define a desired configuration/centerdistance; i.e., by replacing the quick change mold carrier assembly ofthe mold opening and closing mechanism, the mounting plate, transitionplate and perhaps the plunger canisters of the plunger mechanism, theneck ring holders and at the blow station the mold cooling mechanismwould as is conventional be changed to change machine's configuration.

The takeout mechanism, which is shown in FIGS. 45-47, is mounted on thetop surface 94 of the top wall 134 of the section frame and has atakeout tong head 450 which can releasable grip the bottle(s) at theblow station and which is supported by an X-axis slide 452 slidablycarried by a "Z" axis mounting housing or slide 454 which is slidablydisplaceable along a Z-axis column 456. The X and Z axes are controlledby suitable servomotors 457, 458. The bottles formed at the blowstation, whatever their height, will always have their finish located ata fixed vertical location ("Z" datum) and the bottom surface of a bottlemay be located at different vertical locations (ZB1,ZB2) relative tothis Z datum within the vertical height range of the bottles. Thesebottles are gripped by the takeout tong head, removed from the blowstation and deposited on a deadplate 460 which may be located at avariety of Z locations (ZD1,ZD2). A short bottle will travel a differentZ distance (Z1) than will a tall bottle (Z2). The takeout control (FIG.47) defines an X-Z displacement profile for the takeout tong head forany "Z" offset (ZB-ZD), and effects the desired displacement.

We claim:
 1. A plunger base module for use in the blank station of asection of an I.S. machine with a number of vertically extending plungercylinders up to a selected number with each cylinder having a bottomsurface and including a set of service conduits including plunger up,plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or cooling, with each of theservice conduits in a plunger cylinder having a selectively locatedinlet port communicating with the bottom surface of the plunger cylindercomprisinga permanent plunger distribution base having a top surface andincluding said selected number of sets of service conduits, each setincluding plunger up, plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or coolingconduits for one plunger cylinder, each plunger distribution baseservice conduit having an outlet port communicating with said topsurface, a removable transition plate having a bottom surface forengaging said top surface of said plunger distribution base and a topsurface, said transition plate having a number, up to said selectednumber and equal to the number of plunger cylinders, of sets of serviceconduits, each set including a plunger up, plunger down, andcounterblow/vacuum or cooling conduit for one of the plunger cylinders,each of said sets of service conduits in said transition plate havinginlet ports in the transition plate bottom surface for communicatingwith corresponding outlet ports of one of said sets of service conduitsin said plunger distribution base and having outlet ports in thetransition plate top surface selectively located to communicate withcorresponding inlet ports of one of the plunger cylinders positioned onthe transition plate.
 2. A plunger base module for use in the blankstation of a section of an I.S. machine according to claim 1, whereinsaid transition plate includes a number of sets of service conduitsfewer than the number of sets of service conduits in said plungerdistribution base and the bottom surface of said transition platecomprises means for sealing off service conduits in said plungerdistribution base not communicating with a service conduit in saidtransition plate.
 3. A plunger base module for use in the blank stationof a section of an I.S. machine according to claim 1, wherein each ofsaid outlet ports of said transition plate comprise a hole extendingdownwardly into the top surface of said transition plate.
 4. A plungerbase module for use in the blank station of a section of an I.S. machineaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the plunger cylinders furtherincludes a plunger cooling air exhaust conduit communicating with thebottom surface of the plunger cylinder, and wherein each of said sets ofservice conduits in said transition plate and plunger distribution basefurther comprises a plunger cooling air exhaust conduit.
 5. A plungerbase module for use in the blank station of a section of an I.S. machineaccording to claim 1, wherein said plunger distribution base furthercomprises valve means for selectively simultaneously blocking the flowof said services to said transition plate.